Sulfides and derivatives thereof as abscission agents

Abstract

Fruit abscission is induced by application to a fruit bearing plant of particular sulfides and sulfide derivatives optionally in combination with non-phytotoxic surfactant different from said sulfides and derivatives. The sulfides and derivatives have the structural formula RXR' wherein R' is methyl or ethyl, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone, and R is akyl or alkenyl having 10-12 carbon atoms when X is sulfide or sulfoxide and 8-14 carbon atoms when X is sulfone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of inducing fruit abscission comprising applying to fruit bearing plants an effective amount of agent having the structural formula   RXR'     wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone; and R is alkyl or alkenyl having 10-12 carbon atoms when X is sulfide or sulfoxide and 8-14 carbon atoms when X is sulfone.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the structural formula is RXCH 3 . 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the agent applied is selected from the group consisting of decyl methyl sulfoxide, decyl methyl sulfone, 1-dodecenyl methyl sulfoxide and 1-dodecenyl methyl sulfone. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the agent applied is selected from the group consisting of decyl methyl sulfoxide, and decyl methyl sulfone. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein the agent applied is decyl methyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4 wherein the agent applied is selected from the group consisting of 1-dodecenyl methyl sulfoxide and 1-dodecenyl methyl sulfone. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein the agent applied is 1-dodecenyl methyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 2 wherein said agent is applied in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to 50 lbs./acre. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 2 comprising also applying to the fruit bearing plant non-phytotoxic surfacant different from said RXR'. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the weight ratio o said RXCH 3  to surfactant ranges from about 1:400 to about 10:1. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 2 wherein the fruit is a citrus fruit. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plants are orange trees.